United States › Maryland › Bethesda CITY · 2020 ACS
Bethesda Maryland · 68,056 residents · 13.3 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Bethesda is home to 68,056 people in Maryland. Households here earn about 99% more than in Maryland as a whole. Households take in $172,873 a year at the median, 161% more than the country as a whole. 87% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 33% nationally. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $927,600. Renters pay $2,075 a month at the median.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.4
US median: 38.8
More educated
87% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 65%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 41.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
54K 58K 62K 67K 71K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Bethesda Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $172,873
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $99,102 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $58,479 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 71.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Public administration 5.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 3.5%
Transportation & warehousing 1%
Professional, scientific, technical 0.8%
Education & health services 0.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.1%
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$927,600
+65%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $374,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$2,075
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $1,013 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 69.1% in 2000
37.7% rent
from 2.42 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 6.2 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 81.8%(45,210)
Hispanic / Latino 5.4%(3,000)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 68%(46,290)
Hispanic / Latino 9.2%(6,251)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 3 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 44 more ancestry groups with data from 78.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 97.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 48.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 18.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 57.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 4.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 70.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 74.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 23.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 3.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 29.1%(7,582)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 3.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 34.2%(929)
Gulf War (1990s) 19.9%(541)
Share of the 2,716 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Bethesda Head to head
Compare Bethesda to nearby cities BETHESDA VS
Chevy Chase
Income $211,765 +22%
Home value $1,245,000 +34%
Population 9,445 −86%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BETHESDA VS
North Bethesda
Income $129,092 −25%
Home value $731,800 −21%
Population 49,677 −28%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BETHESDA VS
South Kensington
Income $210,953 +22%
Home value $919,800 −1%
Population 8,148 −88%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BETHESDA VS
North Kensington
Income $135,040 −22%
Home value $576,700 −38%
Population 8,954 −87%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Bethesda, Maryland? Bethesda, Maryland has about 68,056 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Bethesda, Maryland? The typical household in Bethesda, Maryland earns about $172,873 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Bethesda, Maryland expensive? In Bethesda, Maryland, the median home is worth about $927,600, and the typical rent is about $2,075 a month.
How educated are people in Bethesda, Maryland? About 86.7% of adults age 25 and over in Bethesda, Maryland hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Bethesda, Maryland? About 3.6% of people in Bethesda, Maryland live below the federal poverty line.
Has Bethesda, Maryland grown since 1990? Yes, Bethesda, Maryland has grown since 1990. The population has added about 5,120 residents, a change of about 8 percent over that period.
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